Willow

The front door opened and first in was Pick, then came a boy around thirteen or fourteen. He had blond hair and blue eyes. I saw his uncle's features in him immediately. The cute lips, the bottom one bigger than the top. The messy hair, the pronounced cheekbones. But then, when a blonde little girl bounded her way into the room, she took my attention. She must have been around six or seven and she was the cutest Skipper, as in Barbie's little sister, I'd ever seen. Her smile was bright, her eyes alight with excitement, and she wore the clothes I'd picked out. She'd chosen a sweet flowery pair of shorts, which could probably cause her legs to become cold since there was a breeze outside, and a purple tee, which didn't match her shorts at all. Still, nothing she wore would make her any less cute.

"Hi," she said to the room. "I'm Romania, but I like to be called Rommy. And that's my Uncle Trey." She beamed and thumbed behind her to Dodge, who placed his hands on her shoulders. She looked up to her uncle with devotion in her eyes. "Oh, and that's my grumpy brother, Texas, but he likes Tex better. Uncle Trey said we were having pizza with his friends. It's really nice to meet you all."

Swoon. Totally adorable.

"Rommy," Dodge began. "You met Pick next door. But that's Billy. The women are Josie and Low."

"Low." She giggled.

Stepping forward, I held out my hand to Rommy. She took it attentively. "It's actually Willow." I smiled and added, "But I like Low better."

"Cool." She grinned.

"Little bird." His voice was deep and growly. I tensed.

Standing tall, my eyes roamed up and glared at the sinful man, looking sexy as ever, as he stood behind Rommy. "Dodge," I said blandly.

"Why do you call her ‘little bird’, Uncle Trey?" Rommy asked, looking from her uncle to me and then back again.

Not giving him a chance to answer, I turned to Tex and walked over to the coffee table, gesturing to the pizza boxes. "Hey, Tex. We've got all kinds of pizza. What do you like the best?"

He shrugged and said quietly, "Anything, really."

"Awesome, I'm the same. I'd eat just about anything, except snails."

Rommy giggled and walked over to us. "No one eats snails, silly. That's yuck."

Nodding, I said, "People in France love them."

"Really?" she whispered.

"Really," I uttered back.

From then on, everything exploded into action. People talked to the kids, made them laugh—though, I could see Tex was holding back a bit more than his sister—so Billy and Pick took up picking on their uncle, which seemed to relax him more and enjoy a laugh without feeling as if he was being watched or judged.

We ate pizza while we discussed what they didn't like to eat. For Rommy, it was vegetables. Josie managed to talk her around, saying that eating a few most nights was good because it helped people grow and become smarter. Since she wanted to be a monster truck driver, she knew she needed to be strong, because if that fell through, she wanted to be a stunt-girl—her words. I noticed Dodge blanched at those ideas of possible future positions. Tex, after some encouragement, told us he hated broccoli. I managed to get a smile and chuckle out of him when I told him that if his uncle tried to feed him that stuff, I would come to the rescue because I hated it, also.

The night went smoothly until I stupidly went into the kitchen on my own to get rid of the rubbish. I'd just placed the boxes on the counter when I felt heat at my back. I stiffened and went to shift to the side, but hands caged me in on both sides when they landed on the kitchen counter.

"Dodge," I hissed. "Move away."

"Call me ‘Dodge’ one more time, little bird, and I'll have you over my knee in seconds."

He was so full of it.

"Sure, Dodge, with the kids in the house and all."

"You think I'm lying?" His tone told me he wasn't messing around, but still I pushed.

"Yes."

Why did I say that? I shouldn't have, because he picked me up and a moment later, I was laid out over his knee after he'd sat on a kitchen chair.

"Dodge," I warned while pushing up to get away from him. I couldn't move, though. He had his arm over my upper back and the prick was strong.

"Last chance, little bird. Call me ‘Dodge’ one more time and see what happens."

Stilling my struggles when his hand roamed over my jean-clad bottom in a circular motion, I said, "Don't be silly, let me up. The kids could come in here."

He chuckled. "Noticed your game tonight. Talked to everyone but me. The kids were a good distraction for you, Low. But no more. Josie, with my brothers, took them home while I have the chance to have a talk with you." While he spoke, his hand never stopped running over my arse.

Snap. Snap. Snap! Why did I like it? Why did I like that he wanted the chance to talk to me? Why did I like that he made it happen?

Still... "Dodge, you're being a—"

Crack.

His hand slapped down on my butt. My back arched and I cried out in surprise and...dang it, desire.

"Don't you dare—"

"You gonna stop calling me ‘Dodge’?"

"You can't do this. We have to talk properly. You can't just do what you did and expect me to be—"

"I'm not and I didn't. But the ignoring game ends now. You willing to talk about what happened like adults now?"

That just pissed me off.

Turning my head, I glared up at him. "Act like adults? Like you did before you left? Like you gave me a chance to explain how I ended up in Beast's lap? Don't be an arse, Dodge, and think—"

Crack.

A stupid moan slipped from my mouth.

Oh, God, I was panting. "Don't," I uttered.

"Don't call me ‘Dodge’ and I won't. Though, I think you like—"

"Let me up!" I yelled and pushed against his leg again.

"No," he growled. His hand rubbed around where he'd slapped it. "Two weeks, Low. Two weeks while I was dealin' with my fucked-up sister's funeral, taking care of her kids and feeling like a loser, all the time you were on my mind."

Oh, man, oh, man. Why did he have to be sweet when I was still annoyed and hurt? My heart, already erratic, sped up.

"Dodge, you seriously can't."

Crack.

God. Damn. It.

Licking my lips, I panted through them until I stopped breathing altogether when his fingers ran down over my pussy. Thankfully, I think, I had jeans on. Still, I felt that heated touch. I felt it and liked it too much.

"Low," he growled. "I'm sorry for being a dick." His fingers pressed in more, causing me to moan. The prick chuckled. "I'm sorry for leaving you after what we nearly shared that day." His fingers slipped down further, and I jolted when he pressed them down hard on my clit and rubbed them up and down upon it. "Most of all, I'm sorry I hurt you."

"You're," I panted. "Two weeks," I moaned. "Too," I groaned. "Late," I snapped and swiftly rolled and fell off his knees, my butt hitting the ground hard. However, I was on my feet and straddling his lap next. I took note of his surprised look with satisfaction before I got close and hissed, "I don't forgive you yet, but I'm willing to use you." With that, I kissed him. It was a hot, heavy and dark kiss, one I enjoyed very much, especially when his fingers slid into my hair and gripped to tilt my head to the side to deepen it. Our tongues slipped and slid over one another, as though they were memorising the way they moved and felt against each other.

I rocked back and forth on his hardness, causing him to growl low down my throat.

"What do we have here?" a highly amused voice asked. We broke apart and I quickly stood, taking a few steps away from my desire.

"Dive," I breathed. "You're, um, home."

"Sure am." He beamed. "Good to have you back, Prez. I'd come and welcome you back, but it looks like I could get my eye poked out." His eyes dipped down to Dodge's crotch, and I slapped my hand over my mouth to hide my laugh. Even though Dodge had jeans on, somehow, his pecker was so hard, it just about tented in the denim.

"You reckon you could come back later?" Dodge snarled at his brother.

"Nope." Dive smirked.

"He, um..." I licked my dry lips. Had Dodge sucked all my saliva out of my mouth? Too bad I wanted him to do it again. "Dive and I. Uh, we have something to tell you. We're together," I said my lie and crossed my arms over my chest.

"What the fuck?" Dive cried. "We're not. No way would I touch her, brother." Dive's tone was high-pitched as Dodge stood slowly. Dive backed up, and his glare to me meant I would pay. "You trying to kill me, woman? After I take you in, you want my own brother to kill me for thinkin' I touched you?"

"S'all good, brother," Dodge announced, and Dive visibly sagged in relief.

"Well, I guess if Beast had told you nothing was happening between me and him that night, you'd have believed him over me? Oh, wait, you didn't even give me a chance to tell you, Dodge. Nooo, instead, you kicked me out and spat nasty words at me." I glared.

He smirked. "You think you're safe now my brother's here? You're not. Call me ‘Dodge’ again, woman, and see the show we'll put on for him." He shrugged. "Dive won't care. He likes to watch. It'll be like porn for him."

"You wouldn't." I scowled.

"Wouldn't I?" He quirked a brow at me, testing me.

Snap. He really would.

"So, I see you have a new game now, to piss me off so I don't wanna get close to you." He stepped towards me, taking my chin between his finger and thumb before he pulled my gaze up to meet his. "Won't work, little bird. I know I was a dick, and I apologised. Now it's you being a bitch for not accepting it and getting over it. Still, I reckon I'll enjoy the games you'll give me." His gaze heated. "You seemed to like the last one real good." He chuckled at my hooded eyes, which then turned hard as I scowled up at him. "Talk soon, Low," he uttered, pressed his lips to mine and walked out of the room. Moments later, I heard the front door close.

I jumped when Dive said, "He's bloody good." I'd forgotten he was even in the room.

"He's a pain."

He laughed. "Yeah, okay then, woman. How about you take your lust-filled self into your room and knock one out." He paused. "Even better, how about you let me watch while you do it."

"Dive," I scolded. "Didn't you get any tonight?"

"Sure did. Which is why I'll only watch and save it for my wank bank later."

Snorting, I rolled my eyes and said, "No, Dive. I will not let you watch me rub one off."

"Noticed you didn't say you weren't going to do it."

Glaring, I asked, "Do you want me to tell Trey you asked to watch me?"

He blanched. "No."

Walking towards him, I patted his arm as I passed. He called my name just as I reached the door. Looking back, I asked on a sigh, "Yes, Dive?"

He smirked. "You called him Trey. Looks like you're learning."

Shaking my head, I gave him a smile and wave before leaving. Did I want to learn, though? Because the outcome had been enjoyable.

Trey 'Dodge' Monroe was the most annoying, sexy, possessive man I knew. He got under my skin, pissed me off, and hurt me. Yet, his words when asking for forgiveness were sweet and tender, caring even.

Could I forgive him?

I realised I already had. Still, I'd let him stew on it for a while longer.

It was too much fun otherwise.